So last night, the internets informed me that yesterday - May 2nd, 2013 - was the 15th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. Like, apparently in the canon timeline, the battle began just as the clock rolled over to May 2nd, 1998, 15 years ago. (1998 was 15 years ago, you guys. What even.) Harry Potter has never been a major fandom for me, but it's one of those things that every time I go back to it, I just have a lot of Feels all over again. And I am absolutely positive that if the ex-bff and I were still friends, we'd be having some post-anniversary celebration Harry Potter-themed party today. She was a major fan. Anyways, I spent about an hour before bed watching some Harry Potter vids and I thought I'd share two of them now. In memory of all things Harry Potter, even though it's a day late.

You'll stay with me?

Until the end.

So let's set the world on fire.

We can burn brighter than the sun.

All this thinking about Harry Potter has made me happy. You know, I had a lot of post-series ideas while I was reading the books and then she did the jump forward at the end of Deathly Hallows and it kind of ruined my taste for it. But now, my mind is turning over a few ideas and idk, maybe I'll end up writing some Harry Potter one of these days. Something outside of the Burrowing 'verse even. Maybe give George as close to a happy ending as he can get without Fred. Or some fics about Teacher!Neville. As if I need more story ideas.

A few weekends ago I watched the first three movies again, one after another. I think there are some pretty serious problems with the first two films, but honestly watching them again I wasn't so bothered by them. Maybe nostalgia is making me more forgiving.

I think there are some pretty serious problems with the first two films, but honestly watching them again I wasn't so bothered by them. Maybe nostalgia is making me more forgiving.

I actually saw the first movie before I had read any of the books, but after I had gone back and read the book, I found it to be one of those movies that was almost word for word the book. Actually while I was reading it, I was like, "That's an exact line!" But the second one, ugh - the book and the movie had so many problems and I have never been sure if the movie really did or if it just had bad source material to work with. Idk, two was not my favorite. I liked the third movie a lot even though it probably veered the most from canon and from the format of the two previous movies. It was good, as a movie. The fourth one being my favorite book, was so chopped up in the movie and just badly done. After that the movies seemed to get better and better, until the last one, which I fucking loved. I think I'll always love the books more, but maybe it's time I go get my hands on all the movies.

Nostalgia always makes me more forgiving! This is true.

Thanks for sharing those videos. They were great.

You're very welcome! I enjoyed watching a bunch of vids that night and I have a few more to rec at some point as well.

BTW, how did the Big Bang artist claims go? Did you get a fic you wanted?

I wasn't sure what time zone the moderators were in, so I set my alarm for 7 am (on a Saturday) so I'd be awake when they opened up the stories for claiming. I was two hours late! But there must have been a lot of people still asleep, because there were some stories left that I was interested in. The author of the one I chose is new to me. She sent me her draft that night and I finished reading it last night. It made me cry! And it was really well written, so I now want to go to her LJ and check out what else she's written.

I emailed her today with some ideas for art and I need to get started soon! No procrastinating!

Hermione as Headmistress. The Creevey brothers as expose' reporters. Ginny ending up with Neville.

Mua ha ha.

Stop adding things to my List!! Dammit, woman.

I really liked that idea about the Creevey brothers - Colin being a character who slowly grew on me as time went by until I loved him - so if I am going AU, I could totally go there! Hmmm, I've never thought much about Ginny/Neville but I could see that working. I do really love Neville/Luna though, but at one point I did kind of want Harry to end up with Luna as well. For some reason lately I have really wanted George/Harry, which Idek where that came from. So many thoughts!

That's right. You give me ideas, then I grumble at you, then I give you ideas, then...

Maybe George wants Harry to, erm, loosen up. If you know what I mean.... :P

LOL Yeah, that's the truth! Actually it's all very post-series angst in my head. Like they are both just lonely and fucked up and keep falling into bed together and won't admit that they are actually like maybe possibly in a relationship with each other because then they would have to risk losing each other and they can't handle the thought of losing anyone else they love. Man-pain, they have it.

I am seriously considering that Harry/George fic, the more I think about it.

I never cared for the way JK skipped years and said, bam, here everyone is!

Me neither. I had already paired them off with who I wanted and made up names for their kids and was plotting out fic ideas for their children (mostly the next generation of Weasleys) falling face first into wacky adventures and then I got to the end of the book and it all kind of fell apart with the fact that she had paired everyone off and named their kids and everything.

It shows that she was never a fanfic writer because any fanfic writer would know you leave that open for the future, for others to write their own stories. But I mean, anybody who reads should know you don't do an end like that. Because the best thing about finishing a book is the time you spend then thinking about 'what comes next'. Letting your imagination guide you down that road. When you close the book, the story doesn't have to be over, that isn't the end for the characters, as long you (the reader) keep it spinning through your head.

By doing the jump forward, she really cut off our need to think any further than where she left us. It's quite honestly my only real complaint about the series as a whole, but sadly it is at the end of the book, so my biggest complaint came as I was shutting the books forever.

You know, I think that ending is why I never bought the last book. I mean, I hadn't gotten around to purchasing it, and the school library happened to have it, so I borrowed it.

I've read it one time, and only one time. For me, that's an astonishing accusation of suckitude! (Okay, maybe that's too strong a word, but I've never had the urge to read it again, either, and I ALWAYS re-read series. I'm re-reading HP right now, in fact; just finished OotP.)

I agree, though - wondering what comes next is a great deal of the fun. C.S. Lewis did the same thing, really, but there were HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of years in-between the start and finish of the Narnia series (I like to read The Magician's Nephew first when I re-read. Gasp!)

I was young enough when I read the Narnia books (for the first time at least!) that I was really only doing self-inserts in my head, so it was all just me falling into Narnia. As I got older and started thinking more about the characters, I found the years between their coronation and them returning home in Lion, Witch & The Wardrobe to be the thing that fascinated me the most, so I guess that's why I never had that complaint about those books in particular.

Harry Potter is too linear for a lot of fill-in-the-gap fics though, although you always have the option of doing the events from any number of side character's POV. If I go for writing fic (at least anything outside of my Burrowing verse) I have a feeling it would all be Altered Reality, within the world but with different circumstances, you know.

Wow, 15 years? Really. I almost can't believe it. I was so young when I read the first Harry Potter book I read (I read the third first, longish story lol) Like you I've never been big into that fandom, but it gives me feels.

I can't see myself writing it, but if you were to write in it *Nudge* *Nudge* I would read it

Oh, I won't be spamming you with kitten pics like I said, we got one and he was the most adorable thing ever, I fell in love and named him Lestat because you know Vampires and within a day of him being here me and my mum couldn't breath and I was covered in hives......turns out I'm allergic to kitten fur, but not cat wtf?

Well, fifteen years for canon, anyways. The first book was released in 1997, the last in 2007. But apparently in the canon, if you follow along with the years and each book Harry is one year older and such, then the Battle at Hogwarts took place in 1998. I've never done the math but I trust the Harry Potter fandom, who were all flapping around on May 2nd.

I was so young when I read the first Harry Potter book I read (I read the third first, longish story lol)

Do you remember how old you were? I didn't get into it until like 2001, when I saw the first movie at the theater and then decided to give in and read all the books that were out already. It wasn't the story of my youth (that was Narnia) but even though I was already in my early 20s, it still holds this special place in my heart.

I can't see myself writing it, but if you were to write in it *Nudge* *Nudge* I would read it

lol I've written two already, fics about the Weasley's as children and I've certainly read some (went through a weird Percy/Oliver phase) but I've never felt inclined to write fics about them as adults until now. My old idea was to write fics about their kids getting up to crazy hinjinx, but now I can actually see some ideas for some adult stories as well. (maybe it helps that the actors are all grown up now too?)

within a day of him being here me and my mum couldn't breath and I was covered in hives

I am sorry to hear that. Boo allergies. Lestat is an AWESOME name for a cat, btw. That sucks so hard, bb. But you can be around adult cats? Maybe you could adopt an older cat from a shelter? Older cats are the hardest to find homes for because everyone wants a kitten and so many of the older cats either get put down or spend their final years in a shelter and don't ever get a home. You could maybe try that. (yes, animal adoption is an issue I feel strongly about - to the point of extreme rage at the assholes down the street who constantly have Free Kittens sign on their door - get your cat fixed you fucktards! Erm, I mean, what). It really sucks that you brought him home and then find out, after you had fallen in love with the little guy. /hugs/

Edit: Just remembered that once I also wrote a West Wing/Harry Potter crossover that oddly worked better than one would think.

I think I was pretty young, I read them before the films and then was ready to judge the films like crazy as I do with any book made into a movie, but I actually liked them.

Narnia is one book I could never get into, I don't know why.

I'm working on convincing my parents to adopt an older cat. I'm a big believer of animal adoption as well and I think I have them swayed. They're only hesitating because of the drama with poor Lestat. But at least we got to give him back to his litter, not a shelter, so I'm sure he's in a good home already.

Narnia is written in a very English fashioned style and I can see it being hard to get into as a child. I've often wondered if my mom hadn't read them to me the first time (starting when I was four) if I would have ever made it through those books on my own. I can't imagine Narnia not being the home of my childhood heart, but I know how hard it was for me to read Tolkien for the first time, even as an adult. My complete and utter love Narnia I owe 100% to my mom.

I'm working on convincing my parents to adopt an older cat.

Yay! But yeah, I can totally understand them being reluctant to getting another animal when they just had their heart broken by the last. Hopefully you can get a nice older baby who will be thrilled to have a home. And so lucky you were able to give Lestat back to his litter!